I was young and was sure I knew exactly what I wanted. I walked into an industrial tire repair shop in Monrovia California and boldly declared to the grungy man in charge that I wanted to purchase the biggest tube he had available. He sized me up for what I really was and responded, NO you don't!, I felt challenged, and repeaded with full confidence, YES, I do. He simply answered No you don't. A little frusterated and way to arrogant I reiterated with an air of underserved confidence, Yes I do...You don't know what I what it for. He just said, OK, It will cost you $3000, it stands 9 ft. tall and weighs 500 pounds. I wish I could have seen the look on my face, it must have been a deflated red glow. In my best to recover I confessed, your right, I don't. What do I want? He pulled the tire pictured above from a barrel and blew it up for me. It was perfect, and only $30. What fun we had on what was dubbed the USS Fat Albert. We never went to the beach or lake without it. a dozen teens could stand on it without tipping it. Am I ever glad I finally asked the one with the real knowledge what it was that would meet my needs. That grungy old guy really knew his stuff. Sometimes I still forget and try to tell God what it is I want instead of doing the really wise thing and ask Him what it is he has for me. I should know better by now. I'm glad I have this picture to remind me. The shack discussion guide, The shack study guide.
as a daughter who came into the family a bit late (ok - so God DOES have perfect timing... but you get the idea) :) i am SO glad you are blogging right now. you are helping me to get to know my Papa Z and Z-family even better and I'm so thankful.
ReplyDeleteI loved Fat Albert! So many memories on him. Lake Havasu, Lake Pleasant, Lake Roosevelt, tubing down the Salt River.. Heidi do you remember going with Jim and I to Bartlett lake - it seems like we may have had Fat Albert on that trip. That was the last time I wore a bikinni I think (and it WILL be the last time) - sorry TMI Dad - hijaking your blog. Dad did Fat Albert actually live that long or did we use "descendants" later?
ReplyDeleteoh yes! we did have him... we swung off a rope too and my arms hurt afterwards. :)
ReplyDeletelove it! on the farm we had our own "fat alberts" yes, plural. that's one of the benefits of being a farm kid -- lots of over-sized inner tubes to take to the lake.
ReplyDeleteDoni: There was only one Fat Albert. I kept him for over 20 years and finally sold him to some teens in the neighborhood. He could still be out there today!
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